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Three years ago I was lucky to join the Windows Phone team at a time when we were “resetting” our approach to mobile operating system software. We made big changes to our design, our approach to partners, and our platform. The result was Windows Phone 7.
Now it’s time to start telling you about the next exciting chapter of our story: Windows Phone 8. Officially announced this morning in San Francisco, it’s the most advanced mobile OS Microsoft has ever made and will arrive on new phones later this year.
Many of Windows Phone 8’s new capabilities come from a surprising source: Windows, the most successful and powerful operating system on the planet, and one used by more than a billion people. Yes, you read that right: Windows Phone 8 is based on the same core technologies that power Windows 8. As a result, Windows Phone 8 will unleash a new wave of features for consumers, developers, and businesses.
Today I’ll give you a high-level sneak peek at the Windows Phone 8 platform and tell you just some of what it’s going to make possible. I’ll also share some exciting news about apps and updates for current Windows Phone customers. This isn’t a full disclosure of everything in Windows Phone 8—look for a more complete tour of new features later.
If you’ve seen Windows 8, Microsoft’s groundbreaking new release for PCs and tablets, you’ve probably noticed it bears more than a passing resemblance to the look of Windows Phone. Here’s how the Windows 8 Start screen looks in the latest preview release.
With Windows Phone 8, the similarity is more than skin deep. We’ve based the next release of Windows Phone on the rock-solid technology core of Windows 8. It means Windows Phone and its bigger sibling will share common networking, security, media and web browser technology, and a common file system. That translates into better performance, more features, and new opportunities for app developers and hardware makers to innovate faster.
This new shared core—along with all the extra work we’ve done on top of it—opens up a new world of capabilities, which you don’t have to be a techie to appreciate. Here’s a taste:
We’re putting the finishing touches on Windows Phone 8 as I write this. It has a ton of great new consumer features that I can’t wait to tell you about in the months ahead. Today, however, I’m going to show off just one: the beautiful, flexible new Start screen.
As you can see, we’re making Windows Phone 8 even more personal, with a new palette of theme colors and three sizes of Live Tiles, all of which are under your control. We know Live Tiles are one of the things current owners really love about their Windows Phones, and we wanted to make them even more flexible and unique. This short video shows the new Start screen in action.
The new Start screen is so useful and emblematic of what Windows Phone is about that we want everybody to enjoy it. So we’ll be delivering it to existing phones as a software update sometime after Window Phone 8 is released. Let me repeat: If you currently own a Windows Phone 7.5 handset, Microsoft is planning to release an update with the new Windows Phone 8 Start screen. We’re calling it “Windows Phone 7.8.”
Some of you have been wondering, “Will we also get Windows Phone 8 as an update?” The answer, unfortunately, is no.
Windows Phone 8 is a generation shift in technology, which means that it will not run on existing hardware. BUT we care deeply about our existing customers and want to keep their phones fresh, so we’re providing the new Start screen in this new update.
Today we announced that the Windows Phone Marketplace officially hit 100,000 apps and games—a milestone we reached faster than Android, and a testament to the thousands of talented developers around the world who’ve supported us since launch. Together they deliver more than 200 new titles, on average, each day.
On behalf of everybody at Windows Phone, THANK YOU! We appreciate your effort and creativity and the value you bring to Windows Phone users.
To mark the milestone, today we’re announcing a new batch of marquee titles. The official Audible app for audiobooks arrives in Marketplace today. Official apps from Chase and PayPal are in the works. Gameloft has Windows Phone versions of Asphalt 7: Heat and N.O.V.A. 3 Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance on the way.
And Nokia is helping deliver the much-requested Zynga games Words with Friends and Draw Something to Windows Phone later this year. Check out Nokia Conversations today for more details about this and other new Windows Phone-related announcements today. (And don’t miss the fun new “100,000 Apps and Counting” mugs and other goodies in the official Windows Phone Gear Store!)
Since we’re talking about apps, I want to tell developers a little bit about what they can expect in Windows Phone 8. Some of the exciting changes on the way include:
This is just a taste. Later this summer, we’ll have much more for developers on the Windows Phone 8 Software Development Kit (SDK) and the new Visual Studio 11-based development tools. So stay tuned.
In Windows Phone 8, we’re also moving into the workplace in a big way, introducing a number of features and capabilities that companies and their IT departments demand. This is just one more benefit of sharing a common core with Windows 8. Some of the new business-friendly features include:
I get a lot of tweets asking, “When will my phone get Arabic? Farsi? Turkish?” They’re also the top feature requests on the Windows Phone Suggestion Box site.
I’m happy to tell you these languages are coming! In fact, Windows Phone 8 will support a total of 50 languages, or double the current geographic coverage. We’re also expanding Marketplace, our store for apps and games, to support app downloads in over 180 countries—nearly triple its current footprint.
Another area I know many of you care deeply about is Windows Phone software updates and how they’re delivered—something we’ve gotten a lot of feedback on over the last year. Today I’m excited to tell you that we’ve been working closely with our many partners to improve the update process for Windows Phone 8, and help get you our latest software more quickly and easily.
How? First, Windows Phone 8 updates will be delivered wirelessly over-the-air, so you don’t have to bother plugging your phone into your PC to update anymore. Second, we will support devices with updates for at least 18 months from device launch.
Finally, we’re working to create a program that gives registered enthusiasts early access to updates prior to broad availability—a little gift to our biggest fans and supporters. We think these three initiatives will help keep your phone fresher than ever before.
I know that’s a lot to digest—and look forward to. And I didn’t even mention actual phones yet!
We’re really excited about the strong line-up of hardware partners who are putting their support behind Windows Phone 8. The first wave of devices for Windows Phone 8 will come from Nokia, Huawei, Samsung, and HTC, all built on next-generation chips from Qualcomm.
As I’ve said, we’re just starting to tell the full Windows Phone 8 story. Keep your eye on the official Windows Phone blog and website for more news throughout the summer. And, as always, I’m eager to hear what you think. Thanks for reading!
Really hate to wait so long for that WP8 SDK and tools to come along...
Please make In App Purchases available for 7.8. Developers will lose out on monetization on all the 7.X phones if this is only a WP8 feature.
I have switched to Windows Phone when Nokia made the jump. I have been absolutely blown away by the OS and can't wait to embark on the next adventure. Thank you for WP7.5
If there is anything I can do to help, let me know.
Cant wait. awesome achievement.
First of all, congrats to that huge improved mobile OS. That will ourtrun others (no need to name them).
But there are some questions regarding the 7.8 update.
- Will we see at least some features from Windows Phone 8?
- Will it be availabe prior the launch of Windows Phone 8?
Thanks for the good show today :-)
Well that sucks, my newly bought (and hugely advertised) Lumia 800 (the latest handset available in the UK) is not getting any future updates, hurray. Back to iOS I go!
Shocked by the announcement - makes it seem like Microsoft is abandoning all current customers. I only got my Lumia 800 a few weeks ago, and it has only been on sale since late last year.
Can you please confirm if Windows Phone 8 apps will work on Windows Phone 7.8 devices? Also, if this is not the case, then if an app is updated to support Windows Phone 8, will Windows Phone 7.8 devices continue to be able to download a previous version that is compatible with their device?
I hope 7.8 users will get the new theme colours, new Live Tile APIs, and the in-app purchase support.
WP8 is great, but the lack of upgrade option from WP7.5 devices that were released last than 3 months ago is really bad and means devs can't really use most of this features in their apps for a while
Can we assume VPN is finally arrive?! Hope it is a yes.
"Remote management: With Windows Phone 8, IT departments can manage apps and phones remotely, with tools similar to ones they now employ for Windows PCs."
Joe let us know if new start screen is the only one feature that will be available for current phone..
What happened to the arrow showing the apps are to the right?
Why you abandoning me Microsoft? Why?
Will registered developers receive the beta for 7.8 similar to how we did for the Mango update?
Are the tracking protection lists synchronized for IE10 on the windows phone ? websites will load even faster without ads
I just passed the 30 day return window of my Lumia 900. It is a graeat phone but it sucks to know that I have been bent over and ****## by this non backward compatibility policy of Microsoft.
If there is one thing that a consumer needs from a company, it is dependability. This is something you guys are clearly lacking.
You "deeply care" about customers so you give them a new screen? Are you handing out peanuts to the homeless? Remember, we are paying customers!!!
You screwed users over with the zune and now windows phone 7.5. You can bet your ass I wont be buying another MS product anytime soon.
So is Windows Phone 7.8 just a facelift - we get the new start screen or will there be other improvements, features added?
I'm really curious about that company app hub. Will that functionality be available to individual developers, perhaps as part of an MSDN Professional or higher subscription?
What can I say? As a WP 7.5 user I'm very very disappointed.
Windows Phone was always the platform for hope - we don't have feature x yet, but the next update will bring that to us. Today you robbed me of that hope. 7.5 today is designed such that it can't fully utilise VoIP (look at Skype), it's bad on the mobile web (try opening twitter.com), it didn't have the cool, cheap 3D games. And I told myself - Tango will fix all this! But Tango turned out to feature a location icon (seriously?). And then I looked forward to Apollo, which will never come to my phone. What will come if Paul Thurott is to be believed (and I'll always believe him now) is a new start screen. Im left on a dead platform (WP 8 SDK being incompatible), with huge gaps in the feature set.
And I'll let you know, in India - a smartphone is a bit of an investment at $600 unlocked. Either way, you probably just dinged some of yours and Nokia 's biggest enthusiasts. Good luck with that.
So basically all the new Lumia owners just got bent over since we will not be getting any new apps once WP8 drops, really wish I wasn't past my return date for this 900 now. Certainly wont be recommending it to my friends anymore.
Great job!
Welcome to fragmentation. The generation shift paragraph is pure BS. Not buying it. If the iPhone 3Gs (released June 19, 2009) can run iOS 6 then my 2 month old Lumia should be able to run WP8 and not some Frankenstein hack.
You have hung your #1 partner, Nokia, out to dry. Emerging markets certainly are not wanting / needing next generation phones.
And on the "update" improvements. Here in the US, most phone contracts are 2 years (24 months) which makes any phone obsolete before the contract runs out. Let alone if people keep the phone beyond the contract date. See the above paragraph about the iPhone upgrade support. 36 months support is what is needed.
I've been a lifelong Microsoft supporter but first the Frankenstein OS that is Windows 8 and now this BS with Windows Phone and I'm thinking about shopping for some black mock turtlenecks.
Mr. Belfiore,
You should resign. Other than Mango, you've done a horrible job with this product.
So no IE 10 or offline maps for old devices? Just the start screen?
First of all I'm truly disappointed that you don't give us the core tech on existing phones. As a developer why would I build apps that takes advantage of WP8 features, if the main market doesn't have these phones? It's like not being able to drop support for IE6, because the user base is still so large. I don't see how we can drop support for so many customers for at least the first year of WP8 being out.
Secondly, regarding DirectX, it's not clear if I can mix C#/Xaml with DirectX/C++.
I want to be able to build a DirectX component that I can use and compose in a C#/Xaml app. I'm basically looking for the SurfaceImageSource that WinRT provides us with, where we can build a native C++ XAML control to get the best performance where needed, but use C#/Xaml for the rest to speed up my development, or to provde a DX/Xaml control as a 3rd party control for other developers.
Sorry, but I currently own a WP 7.5 device, and I can't see how this is good news. I just hope more that just a start screen upgrade is coming, cause there's a lot of people about to buy a 7.5 device between now until the fall.
Hey Joe,
Thanks for the info...fantastic reveal! I'm incredibly excited about Windows Phone 8 and can't wait to get one! Thank you as well for Windows Phone 7.8. I understand why users are frustrated that their phones aren't able to be upgraded, but I think the shared core is worth the separation! I personally appreciate the effort to at least give something to existing users. It's true that a few other features like in-app purchasing, etc. would be nice with 7.8 as well. Or perhaps a buyback initiative for recent new adopters of Windows Phone. I'm sure we'll get more info on that soon, but I wanted to thank you for listening to our feature requests and delivering what looks to be an awesome new OS! I personally don't think that all the amazing WP8 features should be shadowed by 7.8, especially because 7.8 is still a very nice gesture.
Could the Surface tablet or any other Windows 8 powered tablet have NFC?
It would be really interesting to know if anything besides the new Home-Screen is being back-ported to WP7.8. You don't have to tell us what it is now, as some features of WP8 were not yet revealed but only the home screen is pretty little.
If the new start screen is the only thing coming to my Lumia I think I was also "smoked by windows phone". Which is unfortunate because I like the MS-Nokia phone experience a lot!
There is such a big deal about the new Start Screen coming to existing Windows devices it almost sounds like that's the only new feature. Will Windows Phone 7.8 for existing users include a lot more features than just the start screen?
First - l appreciate the cool features that are coming with WP8. There are a lot of great enhancements there. You did a great job on stage showing off what's next.
However, that is all overshadowed by having a new phone (< 3 months) that is now pretty much unsupported. Getting a new start screen and a couple of apps isn't "supporting" the phone if we don't get to use native apps or the non-hardware dependent features that will soon be prevalent. No Skype embedded with the OS. No real multi-tasking for these updated/new apps. It's really sad that all of those great WP devices that are selling so well on Amazon are now pretty much relegated to being worthless because they won't be able to run the new OS. Why would any knowledgeable person tell them to get a WP7.5 device?
Even worse was that talk from Nokia. "We love our customers so here's a couple of apps that might make you happy."? That was a slap in the face to all of the people who just bought a Lumia.
Yes, I'm glad that we'll be getting some sort of update, but with all of the announcements today that depend on the new OS, it's really not enough for those of us who just bought new hardware. Makes me feel like being back in the WinCE and WinMo days now.
Still no screenshot taking functionality, that's a let down!
This is all really excellent and fantastic news across the board. PLEASE, continue to bypass carriers for OS updates. PLEASE, however, work WITH carriers to get more carriers on board... especially Sprint and Verizon in the US.
It is a huge mistake by Microsoft. The right way would be to continue wp7.x as a parallel branch. They could rename it WP CE and release WP CE 8.0. The number 7.8 is very close to 8.0 and leaves little space for subsequent updates. They might release 7.9 update someday but that's it. It has upper limit and expiration date written all over it
Will the sd cards work in 7.8? this way we focus owners can have it :)
Yeah I feel screwed. Not only does my manufacturer (Samsung) barely support WP, now MSFT is abandoning Mango. This is exactly what happened to me on my Zune HD and now again on my Focus S. You guys should basically just drop the WP name and call all WP7 devices "Kin".
Actually.. I like the gutter arrow button. It was more organized before. Now it looks like a cluttered mess. I like that we can customize it though. How will we get to the settings or app list? When will we be able to change the background of the start screen with an image or something?
This means that we spend hundreds of dollars for nothing? To stop receiving updates and improvements? Just a new screen?
It's a strange attitude for those who spoke of a policy of no fragmentation. Now, if a new device comes with the same capacity that my phone have, but with the new system, what do we do?
We request the refund of our investment? Really sux!
big fan of MS but you screwed this one up! not WP8 itself, but the update available for wp 7.x devices. Really dissapointed.. big fragmentation! How will we run wp8 apps?! And like many others said, people who bought the 7.5 phones, bought them less then 6 months ago (some just a few weeks in). What will happen with people with a 2 year contract?!
@WP7Dave
You aren't being serious? Have you seen an iPhone 3G run on iOS5? It doesn't support all the features and it runs like a dog, for all the "improvements" you get you might as well not run it
Also fragmentation is when there are multiple scenarios preventing use of items. iPhone 3G and the iPad may ben able to download iOS6 but will struggle to run it, iPhone 3G especially as it struggles with iOS5. The IPad 2 and iPhone 4 will support more iOS6 features than the iPhone 3G and the iPad but lack features that will be only available to the iPhone 4S and the New iPad. Even releasing the OS to all platforms still causes fragmentation.
My wife got a Samsung Galaxy Y phone January on a brand new contract and that was two OS revisions behind and was not able to purchase the latest apps because they no longer supported that revision. This was a brand new phone and Samsung weren't offering the software updates.
Sony themselves were advising their own customers not to upgrade their 2011 Xperia models to ICS because none of the range met the RAM or CPU requirements to run it better than the installed Gingerbread and some of these were high end phones.
While Microsoft's approach may not please everybody it is a better approach than releasing OS updates for phones that can't handle them (Apple) or releasing updates but not advising customers that they they'll struggle to run them/their phone won't be supported. (Google).
I LOVE what you've done with WP8. I can't wait to get my hands on one and start writing apps.
As a developer I'm a little nervous and feeling a little beat up. I'm hoping the new C++ support means I can consume native C++ libraries from my C# apps. I don't want to write an entire app in C++. I have too much UI code, social code and business logic in place to ever want to do that. I just want to be able to call native libraries like OpenCV (EmguCV) to do processor intensive calculations.
Big news! While the 7.5 upgrade path is a dissapointment I do realize it's a huge change.
To anyone commenting on "eternal iOS updates"... I'd say it is kind of sad how little progress they've made in the past 3 years.
For those of you crying fragmentation, obsolescence actually REDUCES fragmentation. Extended support of legacy devices and loose hardware requirements would fragment the platform. Separating 7.X from 8 actually takes a step toward reducing fragmentation at the cost of making 7.X obsolete. Which is a big cost to many of you, but the point still stands.
The other very nice feature is we, the "developers, developers, developers" must buy a new phone to make new programs, because our last one is now useless
I'm also concerned about the diminishing role of XNA. C# developers need a good, full-featured implementation of DirectX 3D capabilities. We don't want to have to drop into C++ for 3D. C++ does not own 3D.
@velmu
At least iOS users are GETTING updates. Microsoft is only supplying them directly to unbranded Windows Phone users and anyone who is aware they will need to become an "enthusiast user" in the future. That's hardly an improvement in handling updates. FOUR years after Windows Mobile, they should have this situated by now. Carriers suck. Give us updates directly. We should not have to join some enthusiast group. They should be made available to everyone regardless of carrier.
Backport the VoIP API to WP7.8! This would make the lack of upgrade pretty much OK. Now it sucks.
Please rename Windows Phone 7.8 as Windows Phone 8 CE or something
Just like apple give the iOS to iphone 3GS, but 3GS don't get the whole package. Please rename it.
You will lose a lot of customers if you don't call it WP8. And you'll drag Nokia to the ****. Please rename it. Please! Or none of the WP7 would be sold.
CHECK HERE TO LET MICROSOFT KNOW IT:
windowsphone.uservoice.com/.../2942042-please-rename-windows-phone-7-8-as-windows-phone-8
@theNewDanger - Mr. Belfiore mentioned that "registered enthusiasts" will get EARLY access to updates, not that they'll get exclusive updates. This is likely referring to 8.X updates. They would never cordon off an update path unless you are an enthusiast. That would serve no purpose.
I do love all the new features introduced to Windows Phone 8. However, I share the exact same sentiments others have WRT those that have bought 2nd gen devices. Those that bought 1st gen should be eligible for upgrades later this year. But those that bought the Lumia 900, or HTC Titan 2 are being left in the wind, even with the Windows Phone 7.8 announcement. That is if WP7.8 only brings the home screen, that is a shame. I can understand if some features requires newer hardware (I.e. Secure SIM, NFC), but some should be made available to Windows Phone 7.8 customers. Heck, the apps you announced should also be made available to Windows Phone 7.8 users.
@MattEvansC3
The moral of the story is that my ~2 month old phone should not be obsolete. I'm not buying the technology shift because Nokia needs to be able to sell cheap phones to emerging markets (think current WP generation hardware). Microsoft is able to run essentially the same kernel across a multitude of different devices in other form factors. There's no reason a company with the resources of Microsoft cannot create an install that recognizes the capabilities of a gen 2 Windows phone and give them more than a 7.8 experience.
Since Microsoft is so busy playing Me-Too (Surface) maybe they should think about copying the #1 Smartphone on the planet a bit more and I expect Microsoft to do a better job with Windows Phone than Google does with Android. Otherwise they would just give it away too.
And then you have the "Beta Test is Over" commercials. I guess my Lumia is still a Beta phone.
Being so far behind Windows Phone can't afford to keep restarting. As some people have said we've been playing, "wait for it" ever since Windows Phone came out and every time it's, "Psych!" It's like the little boy that cried wolf. Eventually even the diehards go deaf.
The real question is: Are the carriers going to be able to stop the updates from rolling out? I'm still running the disappearing keyboard bug (on the HTC Arrive) thanks to Sprint. I know it's not HTC or Microsoft since the HD7 pro has been updated in Europe.
I feel quite shocked to be honest - I didn't expect the full WP8 update for existing devices, but I expected and hoped for a lot more than a bloody start screen update!! Ive recommended this platform to customers, some have only just bought into the lumia range for their business (moved them from BB) and now I have to tell them that the platform I recommended is being abandoned (WP7.8 = cosmetic), the new features needed like the VoiP background API's etc (they use Lync so need this) will never arrive on their phones, ever!
Seriously, I would really like to know what technical limitation stops the framework porting over, or ever the full update?
Lumia lineup and advertising, especially the 'beta test' crap is what is annoying me the most though, these are brand new devices and its embarrassing that they are essentially just being dumped - while still being sold - jesus a cosmetic update and that's it!! FFS I'm really pi**ed off now, I'm a big time MS supporter but this is unacceptable!
theNewDanger has a big point. We should not depends for the will of any carrier to have a update. The SO must be above the needs and greed of them. It's not new a carrier delay an update just to sell a new device
@theNewDanger You are correct. Apple has done very well regarding update delivery.
I think you should give something more to 1st and 2nd smartphone generation... maybe you won't lose lots of customers (since WP right now has small market) but giving us only the new start screen is really a poor update.
I really wish the updated Start Screen would have taken more cues from Windows 8. Specifically, I would have liked to see more foreground/background color combinations and I would also have liked to see a way to group apps. Both these concepts are well implemented in Windows 8 and seem to make the UI more inviting.
I'm really disappointed that only the new start screen will be available for current WP7.5 customers. I'm currently on my 3rd WP7.5 phone (Focus, Titan, and now the Lumia 900, bought 2 months ago). And I constantly go to bat with others advocating the pros of these phones. Its going to be much harder now. I'm positive the focus on 7.5 will go out the window once 8 release. The variety of applications and upgrade support will drop off. I think I'm switching to Android or iOS as soon as possible. At least those operating systems would continue to support devices released in the past 2 months. I'm not a happy camper.
ChrisLynch : Users aren't "left in the wind", they have WP 7.8, for free.
WP8 is a generation change, it needs new hardware (new snapdragon CPU for example) to run. It's like your pentium II that can't run Windows 7, the hardware isn't powerful enough to bring a good user experience.
Thanks Microsoft. Thanks for allowing me to vote for for you with my dollar and commitment when I bought a Lumia 900 on a 3 year contract 2 months ago.
Thank you for again re-enforcing the notion that spending money on Microsoft in the phone space is ultimately a very bad idea.
My next phone will be an Android device. While the upgrade situation might not be great there either, at least new apps that are being released now with ICS out still freaking RUN on the last version of the software.
Thanks again, for nothing.
@anthonyd
WP 7.* is a great system and obviously 1st and 2nd gen can't support most of new features because of hardware limitation. Ok that's it... but from what we have understood we'll get only the new start screen. Nothing more?
@Anirask
Sorry, but if you get an android device you'll always give money to microsoft... i'm waiting for Tizen and then i'll decide.
@anthonyd it's not a consolation prize. That's we talking about OS6 update 2 years old devices. We talking about continuation and fragmentation. Even if the devices doesn't have all the features, we have a updated device.
All the devices so far have almost the same hardware specifications. It's a controled enviroment. So why we must have a fragmentation, if some devices like Androiod or IOS don't have?
I'm a developer, Microsoft supporter (and partner) and a WP7 user. I bought a Omnia W few months ago and i feel betrayed. WP 7.8 is just a joke. I can't find a tecnical reason to do not upgrade the existing phones.
The lack of a real upgrade path for Nokia Lumia users is intolerable, unless WP7.8 will feature WinRT for app compatibility (highly unlikely I think). Get WP8 on Lumia 800/900, Titan 2, and Focus S at least!
Nice update but I wonder how you plan to handle those who's recently purchased 7.5 phone became obsolete and that most likely were Windows Phone advocates versus all their IOS and Android friends!
No soap was dropped. Why you do this to me?
All kidding inside, it is late already. Why delay this so much? Speaking ill, why announce no update now, when it has been know for very, very, very long time? I watch you today. I leave for work 90 minutes later so miss ??? Anything? I was very, very, very bored throughout. I think this not for those are development, but maybe managers of bookkeepers for development? I don't know. I learn little today. Only how I can lose 90 minutes I appear.
Hi @JoeBelfiore... Long-time follower, occasional poster about things such as this.
What about full backup capability with restore transfer functionality via Zune and/or the cloud?
windowsphone.uservoice.com/.../2748349-full-backup-capability-with-restore-transfer-funct
Essentially, how will people be able to upgrade to new phones quickly and easily without losing a single thing? How can we be certain that if our phone is badly damaged that we'll be saved from our phones?
Thousands of people want to know.
I'm less concerned about writing one app to run on both Windows 8 and WP8 and more concerned about writing one XNA app that will run on the XBox and WP8 (and Windows 8).
Will it have support for PKI and certificates?
For Wi-Fi DA S/MIME?
Support for Micro SD cards with Hardware Smartcard functionality?
i agree wp8 will be a hardware shift....no doubt older phone wont support hardware features like nfc dual etc....but what about things could be done??? was it just the start screen that could come to us??? i dont think current phones are having so old hardware...some more thought had to be put while deciding about the update policy.....and mind you we are talking about people who put trust and faith in microsoft when this platform was new and immature and supported it, a gradual shift out was much welcomed than just dumping(not exactly,but handing a popsicle of startscreen) it out calling it legacy, the phone that has not yet hit the market globally (lumia 900) is also now legacy , what support are we talking about??? how can people who bought a windows phone just before today again believe in microsoft that it will provide support for atleast more than 6 months.....
overall am a hardcore windows phone fan.....no doubt it is a great product as a whole....only the update policy is now urging me switch ships....where i can be relieved that atlest over a year i can be satisfied with my phone and dont have to worry about its updates and support...... :( dissapointed
So many people whining about not being able to get an upgrade their phones to WP8. WP8 is coming during Fall/Holiday season. Most people would have had their Lumia's/Focus's for over 6-8 months. Windows Phone Apps would approach 125k+, they will get a new start screen. And if they want features that work on multicore hardware, they should get those. Apple didn't provide Siri to older handsets, no one complained. Existing Mango handsets are decently feature rich not comparable to the current iOS or Android in terms of apps. But users knew about it when they bought it, but somehow magically expecting features that work on new hardware on your old hardware is being stupid.
I LOVE my WP7.5 Lumia 900 and admire the bold steps MS is taking to advance their phone strategy. My biggest issue with WP7.5 so far has been lack of a native back of SMS messages. Are we going to have a full back/restore of the phone on the cloud ?
Everything that was announced today about WP8 makes sense to me. One minor nit: like somebody else mentioned here, I also liked the arrow button of WP7 start screen and do feel like without it it looks worse. But I do understand the point about wasted screen real estate. I hope UX folks could come up with more elegant solution to use that space though.
Checklist for buying a new phone:
My phone will have updates to new SO after 3 months?
My phone will be supported after 2 or 3 years from now?
:P
Great Great Great news. Congratulations.
I want to know that all Windows Phone 7 or 7.5 applications are run in WP8 or create new for WP8. And also backward version compatible or not. WP8 app will run in WP7.0, 7.5 & 7.8.
I love the huge stride forward.
Keep it up guys.
It's really too bad that MS let go of their old Windows Mobile user base. They could have made a huge difference in market share by now.
So assuming current devices will only get a new start screen, and all new apps wont run on them, meaning they are seriously being left in the dark - you need to stop selling NOW! There is a very fair expectation of support for not just the device but that the device will have an active eco system around it. 7.5 phones sold upto WP8 launch, if the above is true, will have ecosystem support for a matter of months then nothing!
Seriously, the lack of porting some of the framework is astonishing - I've been a big advocate of WP and just feel like this is a massive slap in the face!
@bytes4lunch I'm not expecting a software update to add a core to my phones CPU, or give it a higher res screen - that's just stupid. I was hoping for framework support so that apps like Skype can function properly. Also these current phones are STILL ON SALE, right upto the launch of WP8 devices, so they will have ZERO update time.
I’ll leave aside the impending wholesale abandonment of the WP 7.xx platform by developers as a result of this fork and instead address the “reimagining” of the WP Start screen.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS.
It smacks of just about every once-great concept that unceremoniously gets handed over to committee for final design approval. Microsoft must have just caved to the aesthetic Neanderthals’ grunts and howls about the alleged “wasted space” to the right of the tiles; these being many of the very same knuckle draggers that bewilderingly proclaim Android to be some kind of design triumph. As artists – and yes, the WP Start screen was a masterful work of art – you must rule over its core objective statement with an iron fist. You can have beautiful and you can have flexible, but ultimately ne’er the twain shall meet. This rancid mess is what results when you believe otherwise. Did the entire crew responsible for the original Metro get their walking papers?
The tiny arrow (indicating direction, since you obviously forgot) was instrumental to the core function of the Start screen. Swipe all the way down, and it gives a gentle poke to the side. Swipe left or right and it performs an elegant back flip leaving an indicative breadcrumb trail leading you back. It was as perfectly gorgeous as it was gorgeously perfect, and now it is gone. In its stead is left a cantankerous hodge-podge of white noise. You took a finely tuned, stoic design language and used it to coo and gurgle infantile gibberish.
This is what I now can expect to have blaring at me from my Lumia 900 for the remainder of my mobile contract? Oh, and I'll get this delightful privilege AFTER the new WP8 devices land on store shelves?
That’s just fantastic. Thanks.
I couldn't care less about the new start screen. There are a number of significant bugs (wifi and cell signal switching for example) and features (Bing Maps, VOIP, turn by turn, transit directions, etc.) that are not working properly or missing completely. So for the people buying phones today, you are basically telling them: "Yeah, we know WP7 has a lot of flaws, because we're fixing them right now for an update that you will never get.". I'm disappointed, and it might help to explain why it was technically not feasible to update existing phones, at the very least, the phones currently on the market.
The 7.8 update must include fixes and add the features that have been missing since WP7's initial launch. Customers shouldn't expect their phones to be updated endlessly, but they should expect their phones to work properly. Right now, that's not something I can claim.
A few quotes to calm your fears:
"As a professional multi-platform mobile developer (iPhone/iPad/Android/WP) I can tell you after attending the summit today I have no plans to suddenly just "drop" support for my existing WP7 apps. Even though iOS 5 has been out for almost a year, we still target iOS 4 since 7 or 8 percent of our users are still on it (even for new projects). And Android's a mess, we still target 2.1 since it's still 20% of the market...
So just because a new version is announced doesn't mean every new app will only target that version. As long as WP7 market share is even a significant fraction of WP8's, it makes more sense to write an app that both platforms support. Remember that apps are going to get compiled down to native code for WP8 in the cloud, so I can write a WP7 and still get the performance benefits on newer phones.
As long as you're writing apps in C#, the main difference from what I gathered is the change from Silverlight XAML to Win8-style XAML for the UI (which is really a tiny difference). If developers want to write a WP8 app, they can still use the majority of the codebase to make a WP7 app. This is what I do with iPhone/iPad apps -- 90% of the code is the shared (the back-end); the UI code differs between the two."
-cammsaul (posted at wpcentral)
"Some of the new innovations on Windows Phone 8 are dependent on hardware like NFC and multi-core processors and so cannot be made available on existing phones. That being said, we're working hard on bringing as many Windows Phone 8 features as possible to the current Lumia owners"
-Nokia US
Hope we would be able to change the background color of the start screen, just as in Windows 8.just adding more theme colors for the tiles and being able to change the tile sizes isn't enough.
Wow, so many complainers in here... My personal favorite is @caiorusso and your checklist. I mean, no phone will have support for 2-3 years. I mean, you take one company (Apple) and they only make ONE phone per year. Doesn't take much to support that, yet every year feature after feature is disabled and we're told, "It just won't work with that hardware."
Yet Microsoft has the guts to say, that phone you bought last week is underpowered and won't run our new stuff. It's better stuff. It's the best stuff on earth... It was made to run the OLD stuff. Yea, that WP7 stuff that was good, but not this good. It's so good in fact that we are giving out a whole new set of specs to drive this stuff. We will try and bring you what we can in the fall to make your old stuff seem new, but honestly, there's only so much we can do with 6GB of open internal memory and no expansion options.
I for one am extremely happy with my Focus S and will probably be in line to check out the new Windows Phone 8 devices when they arrive. Not only because I enjoy my phone now, but frankly, it works. Every day the battery lasts, the games play, the web browses and the messaging sends. I never had that luxury with Android and I had so many problems with iTunes/iCloud/iOS that it went to Craigslist within a month.
I'll keep drinking the Kool-Aid and enjoy telling my friends that Windows Phone is the most reliable OS out right now. It just plain works and if you want a phone that just works... Here it is - and since they are EOL now, they're probably going to be free on contract from here on out - and the retails will get slashed by $100-200 a phone pretty soon too for those out of contract lovers!
Congratulations to the WP8 presentation!
Yet, I have to say I still prefere the old UI. Maybe it's not a big change, maybe it has some advantages to use this screen real estate. Anyway, the old UI looked slim, sleek and most of all special. Now, the screen is full with icons and that just looks fat and boring.
Hope you can fix that, or at least leave the choice to the user.
Regards
So far I'm lovin it! Bring on the new "hotness." I'm looking forward to see what we get on the Consumer end. Notification center!?
I love it! Love it! I'm lucky since i'm already eligible for an upgrade so i'm fine. As a improvement i think like windows 8 you should allow group separators so people can organize things easier. And when people tap the name of the group a list comes up so people can easily jump to that group. Like in the list of contacts when you tap the letters. It would reduce scrolling alot more. I like where WP8 is heading so far. Keep up the good work!
Wow - I have to say that I am very confused at all the negativity.
The start of the summit was very clear that the features being talked about were OS / Hardware related features/capabilities, not user features. Although, one user feature, the start screen was talked about. Why are people unhappy about not being able to get WP8 - It integrates and works with lots of hardware not even built into any of the existing phones, so even if they were allowed to be upgraded, the devices wouldn't be able to use the features.
I reckon that people shouldn't be jumping to conclusions - We have had confirmation that an update will be coming to all WP7 devices that is WP8 (Well, in terms of the 1 user feature talked about so far). Currently, we don't know the details on this, but I read it as WP7 will be getting an update to allow it to feel like WP8 as much as it can based on the limited hardware specs of current devices.
As systems age, there will always be a degree of fragmentation, and a period where new devices might feel outdated very quickly. Microsoft seem to be doing a very good job at reducing the level of fragmentation and making sure that people who have just bought devices are still able to get updates and new features - Compare this fragmentation to that of iOS or Android!!!!
It would be useful to have some guidance on WP7.8 market futures, e.g. is WP7.x expected to continue as a platform for low cost handsets beyond WP8 release.
While the future of WP7 devices has been in limbo last few months, I deferred development of some apps until directions were clarified, as they have been today.
Have to decide whether to drop WP7 to focus on WP8 (with cost benefits of sharing dev work with Metro). Shame for current Nokia etc. users especially those who have just bought into WP but can't be sentimental.
@daveh101 The Lumia 900, a device you could buy today, won't be able to run apps that are released for WP8 in the fall. I see that as a major problem.
As a developer I'm happy. Happy that the app I've been building for so many months will continue to run fine on wp8. But as a consumer I'd be really pissed off. I was fortunate enough to receive a lumia for free but most people paid hundreds of euros for the latest and greatest only to find they become legacy devices in a matter of days. I read counter-arguments that this has always been the case in technology, a pentium2 does not run windows 7. The difference is that the pentium2 pc is not on the selves with 500+ euro price tag
I am a little disappointed to have it confirmed that my Focus won't be getting WP8, I did just buy it in December 2011. That said the scale of the changes from WP7.x to WP8 are huge, so I really didn't expect much if anything for a device as old as mine. I also got my phone for only 250$ brand new and it's been an overwhelmingly positive experience; my other choices would have been lagging low end Android phones or a POS iPhone 3GS that both would have been out of date day one rather than a year later. I'm going to buy a new WP8 device when I feel I'm missing out on important applications and features, whenever that might be.
The changes brought to the core of WP8 and the handful of user-facing features look great, I'm excited to see how the platform evolves in the future and how the general consumer reacts to the tight integration between WP8, Windows 8/RT, the XBOX and MS cloud services. I have a feeling this fall will be the start of MS retaking the crown in mobile, all the pieces are in place for it, so now the consumers just have to bite en masse.
People need to realize that what you buy today will be obsolete tomorrow but that doesn't mean your phone will cease to function. If you don't want to be stuck in a 2 year committment, I suggest you pay retail. Personally, I like my Samsung Focus and I espcially enjoyed only paying 1 PENNY for it! I will just live with it until my current contract expires.
Microsoft...one of the few issues I have with 7.5 is the fact that you cannot send or receive a video via text. You can do this on Android and the iPhone. I hope this feature is added to Windows Phone 8 or the next time I'm in the market for a new phone, I'll look elsewhere!
Oh, and native screenshot support would be very much appreciated. I sure hope that's included in WP8, as minor as it might seem screenshot support is a big deal to me and is sorely needed.
Will WP 7.8 support the new languages?
“Windows Phone 8 is a generation shift in technology, which means that it will not run on existing hardware.” – I don't think so. Windows 8 RP runs on 5 years old notebook. Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 share the same kernel. It can handle single core CPU. Windows 8 kernel can run on ARM processor architecture. Qualcomm MSM8255 has ARM architecture. Is it really so challenging to move this functionality from Windows CE to Windows 8 kernel?
"The first wave of devices for Windows Phone 8 will come from Nokia, Huawei, Samsung, and HTC"...WHEN?
Waiting anxiously to replace my 1st gen WP7 for a WP8. Love the OS.
Once again, great work team!!!
While I'm exciting about most of the things announced for WP8 today, there's one question I have to ask: what happened to the negative space (gutter) and app arrow on the start screen??
A lot of people are probably happy that the new start screen occupies the whole screen now but I'm not one of them. To me, the negative space was like a breath of fresh air that offset the live tiles, giving the start screen a distinctive and clean look. I remember reading a blog post before detailing all the thought that’s gone into the start screen; of how concepts like the rule of thirds and the golden ratio were factored into its design; of how the negative space served as a spot for users to tap to cancel out from customizing their live tiles. I also loved the way the app arrow bounced when I scrolled to the bottom of the start screen, providing me a subtle hint that there are more apps on the right side.
All these minor things show me how much attention and thought MS has put into WP and that’s why I love my phone. It’s a real shame that for the gain of a few pixels all those considerations are… well, tossed into the gutter. Without the negative space, and with the introduction of the new tile sizes, the start screen looks like a mess of tiles and appears very busy. I do hope there is a way (a setting perhaps?) to re-enable the negative space, if not, please, please, please consider implementing this setting. I hope it’s not too late!
Well I am just waiting for a deadly combination of Nokia 808 Pureview and WP8
How about you guys actually watch the presentation, before freaking out. I see alot of complaints about the new start screen. If you like the way it is designed now, you can have your 2 tile width for everything and keep it simple. If you want to have 3 or 4 apps in a row, you can do that to. The way its implemented is fantastic.
As per the announcment. Developers can use C#/Xaml with DirectX/C++ and HTML5. They can ALL be USED and MIXED withing the SAME app.
And for the others complaining about the user base being so small when phone 8 comes out, so no one to buy there apps, you have to remeber that the code base is SHARED between phone 8 and winows 8. You can use up to 90% of the same code for BOTH windows phone 8 and windows8, thats why your going to have a huge user base.